The enemy attacked without warning…we knew that the enemy was there but the attack was a surprise.

General Howe landed in Maryland and was headed to Philadelphia…but General Washington knew it almost as soon as he landed. Immediately General Washington moved his army towards the Brandywine River….but when Washington arrived he was welcomed by British artillery fire. During the barrage it became obvious that the British had split their army and flanked the Americans and simply were “trapped ducks on a pond.”

The Marques de Lafayette requested to join, request granted, and he immediately re-establish and re-fortified a line that would not retreat, would not quit – Lafayette later wrote to his wife that the British had “honored me with a musket shot to the leg.”

This is another example of our country being able to adapt and overcome any attack…there was another event that would occur on a September 11th many years later that at least for a small time unified our amazing country – for that brief moment it became a snapshot of what a diverse nation that celebrated its differences could be.

In those scenarios we know the enemy….do you know the enemy that attacks you spiritually? Where are you attacked? Is it from God? Is it His will? Be mindful of the eternal creators prescriptive will and His permissive will. Why do these things (evil) happen, and why would a loving God allow innocent people to suffer? I ask this in lieu of the events at a Denver movie theater…

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." C. S. Lewis

Luke 13:1-5 (NASB95)
1Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

John 9:1-3 (NASB95)
1 As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Matthew 5:45 (NASB95)
45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NASB95)
14 In the day of prosperity be happy, But in the day of adversity consider— God has made the one as well as the other So that man will not discover anything that will be after him.

Hebrews 11:35-39 (NASB95)
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

Father –
I thank you and I praise your Holy will and Holy presence. I pray that we would be obedient to your commands and that we would be open to follow your Word with the wisdom of Solomon and the heart of David. I pray that we never quit the fight, we would never be complacent in the battle for the lost, for the battle for Your kingdom…
In your name I pray –

Adrian “AG” Green

Ref. “Tough Question Series”